Best Pet Shops

Specialised pet store vs general supermarket

Pet stores carry a greater variety of items and brands, with some pet stores carrying as many as 100+ pet food brands. On the other hand, supermarkets do stock some items for pets, but they are limited - only enough to fill a few shelves in an aisle.

If you’re unsure of whether you can pick up an item for your pet during a quick mid-week grocery shop, or whether you’ll need to schedule a trip to a pet store, consult with the table below.

What are pet items?

Pet items and supplies sold by pet stores can be summed up into the following:

• Food: dry, wet, vet prescription diets.
• Medication: flea, tick and worm control, antiseptic, toothpaste + supplements such as rose hip powder, stress relief spray.
• Grooming: shampoo, soap, scissors, shears.
• Cleaning: carpet cleaning, laundry detergent, odor remover, multi-surface cleaner.
• Training: vibrating collars, clickers and harnesses.
• Pet accessories: standard collars, leashes, leads.
• General supplies: feeding bowls, plastic bags to clean up any mess while going out for a walk.

Pet store services

Other than selling pet supplies, some pet stores also offer services catering to the needs of pets.

• Dog washing: Some pet stores, such as City Farmers, offer a mobile dog wash service that travels to your home. In addition to washing your pets until they’re cleaning and sparkling, mobile dog washes often provide extra services such as nail clipping, flea rinses, and an ear and paw pad treatment.
• Puppy school: this involves taking your puppy to training sessions, in which your pet will become socialised and trained to learn skills, such as toilet training, walking on a lead, and following basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘drop’, and ‘wait’.
• Pet education: Many pet stores will also have articles and videos on their website for free, that pet owners can consult for handy tips and tricks on how to train and take care of their pets.

How much is a dog at a pet store?

The price of a dog from a pet store will depend on various factors, including age and breed of the dog. Certain dog breeds are considered to be more valuable than others and thus will be more expensive.

• Pure breed: A pure breed dog, such as a French bulldog, will set you back by around 5 to 10k. Pure breed dogs are harder to find on traditional adoption sites, as they are highly sought after. You'll most commonly find a pure breed dog on specific breeder sites.
• Mixed breed: Cross-breed dogs are common in animal shelters and will usually cost around $200 to $400. Animal adoption agencies are eager to find dogs a new home, so it's rare to find cross-breed dogs for more than $400.

Some pet stores have animals available for adoption or will facilitate pet adoption via third party organisations.

Many adopted dogs will also come already microchipped and vaccinated, as this is the standard procedure once stray dogs are brought into a shelter.

Depending on how old your dog is, you’ll need to spend money on getting your dog de-sexed (if you don’t want your dog to reproduce), which can cost around $300 to $500.

What do pet owners spend the most money on?

Initial costs

According to moneysmart.gov.au, you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $6000 within the first year of owning a pet.

Some of these costs will include getting your pet microchipped, vaccinated and/or de-sexed. Other initial costs include purchasing pet essentials, such as a pet bed, feeding bowl, kennel, pet insurance, etc.

Ongoing costs

After these initial costs, the most significant amount of money pet owners spend will be on food. On average, a pet owner spends around $800 a year on premium pet food. A common challenge faced by pet owners is searching for a brand and type of pet food that's affordable, yet still addresses the nutritional needs of your dog or your cat.

Another aspect that some pet owners might have to spend a significant amount of money on is vet bills. Depending on why your pet is in hospital, you could be looking at spending a large amount of money. However, choosing the right pet insurance for you and your pet may take a weight off your shoulders, and could also save you money in the long-run.

Pet store etiquette

Buying pet supplies from an online store offers the convenience of not having to leave the house, but sometimes you’d rather go into a physical store in person so you can check for yourself whether an item is suitable or not.

So if you’re planning on visiting a pet store, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Unless the store clarifies otherwise, don’t bring your pet - especially if you’re purchasing pet supplies from a supermarket. If you want to bring your pal along for a little adventure to the store, the following stores are pet-friendly and happy to welcome your pet in-store.

Of course, there are still some limitations. In general, ‘pet-friendly’ usually refers to being welcome to conventional pets like cats and dogs, as opposed to the wild possum you rescued on the side of the road.

Some stores also enforce rules, such as requiring that you keep your dog leashed at all times, or secured in a trolley. To be sure of what you can and can’t do; it’s best to consult with the online website or call up the store in advance.

Popular pet-friendly stores

• Petbarn: is pet friendly, the store only requires that your dog is leashed while inside the store.
• PETstock: feel free to bring along your dog or cat, as customers have been told they can bring their pets with them.
• Bunnings: Not a pet store, but bunnings stocks some pet items, and is known to allow ‘friendly’ pets to be brought into the store - but they must either be secured in a vehicle or trolley or carried around the store.
• Best Friends Pet Store: Their website states that ‘pets are as welcome as their owners.’

Conclusion

Overall, pet stores offer all the items you need to keep your best friend happy and healthy. Whether you’re stopping by to pick up a bag of dog food, or bringing in your pet for a wash, many pet stores are convenient, one-stop shops for everything your pet might require.